Portable computer and hinge mechanism thereof

ABSTRACT

A portable computer and a hinge mechanism thereof are provided. The portable computer includes a display screen, a host and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism is connected with the display screen and the host. The hinge mechanism is used for rotating the display screen around the host. The hinge mechanism includes a bottom board, a pivot, a network connecter and a slanting board. The pivot is disposed on the bottom board, wherein one end of the pivot is connected with the host and the other end of the pivot is connected with the display screen. The network connecter is disposed on the bottom board. The slanting board is disposed on the bottom board and slants to the pivot. The slanting board has an opening which exposes the network connecter.

This application claims the benefit of People's Republic of Chinaapplication Serial No. 200810182061.9, filed Nov. 28, 2008, the subjectmatter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to a portable computer and a hingemechanism thereof, and more particularly to a portable computer whosedisplay screen rotates around host and a hinge mechanism thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the features of lightweight, slimness and compactness, portablecomputer has gradually replaced desk-top computer and become themainstream product in the computer market.

A portable computer includes a display screen, a host and a hingemechanism. The hinge mechanism is disposed between the display screenand the host for rotating the display screen around the host. The designof the hinge mechanism affects the appearance of the display screen andthe host as well as the disposition of other elements. Thus, the designof a suitable hinge mechanism has always been an important issue in theresearch and development of the portable computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to a portable computer and a hinge mechanismthereof. The structural design of the hinge mechanism enables otherelements to achieve an appropriate design of disposition.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a portablecomputer is provided. The portable computer includes a display screen, ahost and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism is connected with thedisplay screen and the host. The hinge mechanism is used for rotatingthe display screen around the host. The hinge mechanism includes abottom board, a pivot, a network connecter and a slanting board. Thepivot is disposed on the bottom board, wherein one end of the pivot isconnected with the host and the other end of the pivot is connected withthe display screen. The network connecter is disposed on the bottomboard. The slanting board is disposed on the bottom board and slants tothe pivot. The slanting board has an opening which exposes the networkconnecter.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a hinge mechanismis provided. The hinge mechanism is connected with a display screen anda host of a portable computer. The hinge mechanism is used for rotatingthe display screen around the host. The hinge mechanism includes abottom board, a pivot, a network connecter and a slanting board. Thepivot is disposed on the bottom board, wherein one end of the pivot isconnected with the host, and the other end of the pivot is connectedwith the display screen. The network connecter is disposed on the bottomboard. The slanting board is disposed on the bottom board and slants tothe pivot. The slanting board has an opening which exposes the networkconnecter.

The invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The followingdescription is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a portable computer according to a preferred embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a 3-D diagram of a hinge mechanism;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a hinge mechanism; and

FIG. 4 shows a portable computer, a desk-top and a network cable joint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments are disclosed below for elaborating the invention.However, the following embodiments are for the purpose of elaborationonly, not for limiting the scope of protection of the invention.Besides, secondary elements are omitted in the following embodiments tohighlight the technical features of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable computer 100 according to a preferredembodiment of the invention is shown. The portable computer 100 includesa display screen 110, a host and a hinge mechanism 130 (the host iscovered by the display screen 110 and is thus not illustrated in FIG.1). As indicated in FIG. 1, the hinge mechanism 130 is a trapezoidstructure. The hinge mechanism 130 is connected with the display screen110 and the host. The hinge mechanism 130 is used for rotating thedisplay screen 110 with respect to the host around the axial line L.

Referring to FIGS. 2˜3. FIG. 2 shows a 3-D diagram of a hinge mechanism130. FIG. 3 shows a top view of a hinge mechanism 130. As indicated inFIG. 2, the hinge mechanism 130 includes a bottom board 131, a pivot132, a network connecter 133, a slanting board 134, a parallel sideboard 135 and a sliding-rail structure 136. The pivot 132 is disposed onthe bottom board 131. The first end 132 a of the pivot 132 is connectedwith the host, and the second end 132 b of the pivot 132 is connectedwith the display screen 110. The first end 132 a of the pivot 132 isfixed on the bottom board 131. The bottom board 131 has a locking hole131 a used for locking the host and the bottom board 131. The second end132 b of the pivot 132 is locked on the display screen 110.

When the first end 132 a of the pivot 132 rotates around the second end132 b, the host and the bottom board 131 will be linked with the firstend 132 a, and the display screen 110 will be linked with the second end132 b of the pivot 132. Thus, the display screen 110 can be rotatedaround the host.

A parallel side board 135 is disposed on the bottom board 131 andsubstantially parallel to the pivot 132. A slanting board 134 isdisposed on the bottom board 131 and slants to the pivot 132 and isfurther connected with the pivot 132 and the parallel side board 135. Inthe present embodiment of the invention, the contained angle between theslanting board 134 and the pivot 132 substantially is 45 degrees.Therefore, the parallel side board 135, the slanting board 134 and thepivot 132 substantially form a trapezoid structure. In the presentembodiment of the invention, the parallel side board 135 and the bottomboard 131 are integrally formed in one piece, but the slanting board 134and the bottom board 131 are two separate structures.

Besides, two sliding-rail structures 136 are erected on the bottom board131 for disposing the network connecter 133. The operator slides twoprotrusions 133 a of the network connecter 133 to the sliding-railstructures 136 in a perpendicular manner, so that the network connecter133 is firmly disposed on the bottom board 131. (only one protrusion 133a can be seen in FIG. 2 due to the restriction of view angle)

The two sliding-rail structures 136 do not have to be opposite to eachother. For example, one sliding-rail structure 136 is closer to theslanting board 134, and the other sliding-rail structure 136 is fartherfrom the slanting board 134. It is ascertained that the networkconnecter 133 can correctly slide into the sliding-rail structures 136as long as the two protrusions 133 a of the network connecter 133correspond to the two sliding-rail structures 136.

Next, the slanting board 134 is mounted on the bottom board 131.Meanwhile, the opening 134 a of the slanting board 134 (illustrated inFIG. 2) exactly exposes the network connecter 133, so that the user caninsert the network cable joint 200 from the external of the hingemechanism 130.

The network connecter 133 includes a main body 1331 and an extensionportion 1332. The main body 1331 and the extension portion 1332 areformed from two different materials having different colors by way ofinjection. After the network connecter 133 is disposed on the bottomboard 131 and the slanting board 134 is disposed on the bottom board131, the extension portion 1332 will be projected from the slantingboard 134.

Besides, the electrical contact of the network connecter 133 is notdirectly soldered on circuit board but is soldered at one end of a wireinstead. The other end of the wire is soldered on the circuit board.Therefore, the design of the hinge mechanism 130 is not restricted bythe disposition of the circuit board.

Referring to FIG. 4, a portable computer 100, a desk-top 300 and anetwork cable joint 200 are shown. As the slanting board 134 tilts 45degrees with respect to the pivot 132 (illustrated in FIG. 2), a space Sis formed at the corner between the slanting board 134 and the desk-top300 when the portable computer 100 is placed on rectangular desk-top300. The space S exactly disposes the network cable joint 200, so theuser can push a lateral side 100 a of the portable computer 100 to alateral side 300 a of the rectangular desk-top 300. Therefore, theutilization rate of the space is maximized.

The portable computer and the hinge mechanism thereof disclosed in theabove embodiments of the invention have many advantages exemplifiedbelow.

1. When the first end of the pivot rotates with respect to the secondend, the host and the bottom board will be linked with the first end,and the display screen will be linked with the second end the pivot.Thus, the display screen can rotate around the host.

2. The sliding-rail structures are erected on the bottom board fordisposing the network connecter. During the assembly process, theoperator slides two protrusions of the network connecter intosliding-rail structures in a perpendicular manner so that the networkconnecter is firmly disposed on the bottom board.

3. The main body and the extension portion of the network connecter areformed from two different materials having different colors by way ofinjection. Thus, there is no need to assemble the main body and theextension portion, hence reducing the labor and material cost forassembling the main body and the extension portion.

4. The electrical contact of the network connecter is not directlysoldered on circuit board but is soldered at one end of a wire instead.The other end of the wire is soldered on the circuit board, so thedesign of the hinge mechanism is not restricted by the disposition ofthe circuit board.

5. As the slanting board tilts 45 degrees with respect to the pivot, aspace is formed at the corner between the slanting board and thedesk-top when the portable computer is placed on rectangular desk-top.The space exactly disposes the network cable joint, so that the user canpush a lateral side of the portable computer to a lateral side of therectangular desk-top. Therefore, utilization rate of the space ismaximized.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofa preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope ofthe appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similararrangements and procedures.

1. A portable computer, comprising: a display screen; a host; and ahinge mechanism connected with the display screen and the host, whereinthe hinge mechanism is for rotating the display screen around the host,and the hinge mechanism comprises: a bottom board; a pivot disposed onthe bottom board, wherein the one end of the pivot is connected with thehost, and the other end of the pivot is connected with the displayscreen; a network connecter disposed on the bottom board; and a slantingboard disposed on the bottom board, wherein the slanting board slants tothe pivot and has an opening, which exposes the network connecter. 2.The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanismfurther comprises: a parallel side board disposed on the bottom boardand substantially parallel to the pivot.
 3. The portable computeraccording to claim 1, wherein the hinge mechanism further comprises: twosliding-rail structures disposed on the bottom board for disposing thenetwork connecter.
 4. The portable computer according to claim 3,wherein the sliding-rail structures are erected on the bottom board. 5.The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the contained anglebetween the slanting board and the pivot is substantially 45 degrees. 6.The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein one end of the pivotis fixed on the bottom board, which has a locking hole for locking thehost and the bottom board.
 7. A hinge mechanism connected with a displayscreen and a host of a portable computer, wherein the hinge mechanism isfor rotating the display screen around the host, and the hinge mechanismcomprises: a bottom board; a pivot disposed on the bottom board, whereinthe one end of the pivot is connected with the host, and the other endof the pivot is connected with the display screen; a network connecterdisposed on the bottom board; and a slanting board disposed on thebottom board, wherein the slanting board slants to the pivot and has anopening, which exposes the network connecter.
 8. The hinge mechanismaccording to claim 7, further comprising: a parallel side board disposedon the bottom board and substantially parallel to the pivot.
 9. Thehinge mechanism according to claim 7, further comprising: twosliding-rail structures disposed on the bottom board for disposing thenetwork connecter.
 10. The hinge mechanism according to claim 7, whereinone end of the pivot is fixed on the bottom board, which has a lockinghole for locking the host and the bottom board.